Poll: Should HTC Buy MeeGo or webOS?

Now that Google's bought a rival cell phone maker, Motorola, should HTC buy MeeGo or webOS?

Ever since Google acquired Motorola in August, many have been waiting to see how other Android manufacturers would react. Officially, they are all thrilled with Google's acquisition of a rival cell phone maker.

But unofficially? If the rumors are true, they're anything but. On Monday, we reported that HTC is thinking of acquiring a mobile operating system to reduce its reliance on Android, now that it's apparent Google and Motorola will share more than just patents.

Coincidentally, there is one, possibly two, mobile OSes looking for new parents: HP-made webOS and MeeGo, a year-old initiative from Nokia and Intel. In August, HP announced it would stop supporting webOS devices, like the TouchPad tablet as well as Veer and Pre 3 smartphones.

The Taiwanese manufacturer currently builds smartphones with Android and Windows Mobile. HTC launched the first Android smartphone, the HTC Dream (marketed on T-Mobile as the G1) in 2008. It has also announced its first Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" smartphones for the U.S. market, the Radar and Titan with AT&T.

In analyzing who should buy webOS, PCMag's Jamie Lendino suggested that Samsung had invested a lot in its own Android software and bada, pointing to HTC as a more likely suitor. Digitimes, however, said Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility might have prompted Samsung to consider webOS as a backup rather than putting all its eggs into one Android basket.

Samsung has denied the webOS rumor, and is reportedly eyeing MeeGo now that Nokia has shifted its focus to Windows Phone 7.

Which mobile platform do you think HTC should buy? Would you rather see an HTC Palm Pre or an HTC N11? Or something else altogether? Vote in our poll below and tell us why you chose it in the comments section below.

Sara Yin is a junior analyst in the Software, Internet, and Networking group at PCmag.com, pouring most of her energy into app testing and security matters at Security Watch with Neil Rubenking. She lies awake at night pondering the state of mobile security (half-true).
Prior to joining PCMag.com, Sara spent five years reporting for publications in New York City (Huffington Post), Hong Kong (South China Morning Post), and Singapore (Campaign Asia, Men's Health).
Follow her on Twitter at @SecurityWatch and @sarapyin, or contact her the...
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